Preview
THE EVAPORATORS
Saturday, May 15
Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Hall
It's a monetary stretch, yes, to compare Canadian geerage rawkers the Evaporators to pop-hop sensations Outkast. Yet, spiritually, Andre 3000 and MuchMusic celebrity interrogator Nardwuar the Human Serviette are cut from two shades of the same plaid cloth. If the lyrics of Andre's The Love Below disc are semi-retarded, Nardwuar's Evaps lyrics are a semi (honk, honk!), loaded with retarded. While the latter's antics and chicken squabble inspire loving, hating and head-scratching, Nardwuar is, like Andre, an undeniable mountain of entertainment. And both dress in fantastical onstage outfits.
Nardwuar and the Evaporators get it, even if sometimes the audience doesn't. Despite a rock-historical sound (60's garage, early Canadian punk), the band is distinctly, vigorously now. The music is a cataloguing system for Nardwuar's over-the-top pop cultural gadfly obsessions. Both Andre and Nardwuar put on a show – while Andre is "cooler than bein' cool," Nardwuar is "Addicted To Cheese." For both, persona plus performance are the package.
Fast Forward: Ripple Rock is No. 1 on the National Campus and Community Radio Report and is signed to Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles label in the U.S. Is the world turning on to Nardwuar and the Evaporators?
Nardwuar The Human Serviette: I feel we have almost reached our long-standing goal of partying poolside with Heather Locklear.
FF: Is it fair for me to contrast No. 1 American superstar hip-hop sensations Outkast with Canadian rock geeks the Evaporators? Andre 3000 and Nardwuar?
NTHS: Unfortunately you can't, as the Outkast are No. 1 in sales and we are like No. 111,111,111,111,111 in sales. However, Obie Trice did recently call me "Nardwuar 3000." I know that ’Dre of the Outkast is a big fan of the Soundtrack of Our Lives. And I have interviewed the Soundtrack of Our Lives, so um, OK, Andre 3000 is my bro!
FF: "(I've Got) Icicles on My Testicles" nicely parallels "Roses," with its "roses really smell like boo-boo" refrain. What song from the new Evaporator's album, Ripple Rock, parallels Outkast hit "Hey Ya?"
NTHS: "(I Gotta Disease) I'm Addicted To Cheese." Just like the Outkast give props to pop culture icons in "Hey Ya" (Beyonces and Lucy Lius) we acknowledge some serious metal gods in "Addicted to Cheese" (Enuff Z'Nuff and L.A. Guns)
FF: The new Evaporators CD includes new Evaps tunes, Canadian punk covers, Thee Dublins, celebrity interviews and an enhanced CD video package. Your websites, www.theevaporators.com and www.nardwuar.com, also offer tons of peripheral goodies. Are you attempting to outdo yourself with each release?
NTHS: Unlike the Strokes, I believe it is not, "all about the music." It's about packaging too! I'm not alone on this! Recently Morrissey criticized The Strokes for poor album design. Although I would be frightened to hear what Moz thinks of our tunes!
FF: Reviewing an Evaporators CD for Melody Maker, Courtney Love says about you, "He's the biggest freak in the whole of Canada!" and, "I hate him!" and also, "He's crazy, but you'd love him!" She about sums up public opinion about you, wouldn't you say?
NTHS: Courtney sure nailed it!
FF: There's lots of Canadian content on this album.
NTHS: I just love Canadian history. The song "Ripple Rock" is about blowing up a rock called Ripple Rock near Campbell River, B.C. Other songs on the LP have a Canadian bent too, like "Gerda Munsinger" (about a supposed Canadian spy), "Cardboard Brains," (a tribute to the old Toronto punk band of the same name) and, we cover two classic Canadian punk band's songs: Calgary's The Hot Nasties' "Barney Rubble is my Double" and Vancouver's The Pointed Sticks "I Quit School."
FF: Ripple Rock is wordier than previous Evaps releases – no four-word anthems a la "Welcome To My Castle." It's also serious, even poignant by turns ("Half-Empty Halls" and "Shittin' Party").
NTHS: Since we had a couple years to write the album, I had a lot of stuff to get off my chest. (However, when we play) live I forget all the lyrics and everything becomes a "chant" anyways.
FF: During past Evaporators performances you've dressed in outrageous outfits and hit the stage as band alter ego Thee Goblins/Thee Skablins. What surprises does the current Evaporators show hold?
NTHS: We've ditched working out in the buffet and now actually use the treadmill. So you shouldn't be too scared of our beer guts this time. They have been reduced in size dramatically. |
Copyright ©2004 FFWD. All rights reserved.